Martin will serve city well as mayor

A MAJORITY OF Lubbock voters signaled they're ready for a change in the way business is conducted at City Hall by electing former City Councilman Tom Martin as their new mayor.

We join Mr. Martin's supporters in congratulating him in his new role as he returns to public office after a two-year absence. His service to the community as Councilman and later as mayor pro-tem will shorten his learning curve considerably in the city's top elective job.

He'll hit the mayoral ground running with his priorities already solidly in place, a factor that no doubt resonated with voters. His top three priorities are:

n Ensuring a dependable, long-term water supply for the city;

n Encouraging and facilitating improved communication between and among Council members, whether they agree on specific issues;

n Formulating and embracing decisions that will help Lubbock grow and thrive in the future.

For the most part, the city as a whole has been well-served by incumbent Mayor David Miller, although his freshman term was sullied in the public's eyes by circumstances and events, some of which were beyond his control.

Not everything that happens in the community can be laid at the feet of the mayor. But anyone who thinks politics is fair has an unrealistic view of the process. Doubtless, Mr. Miller and Mr. Martin realize this full well from their experiences as candidates and public officials.

This year, as two years ago when Mr. Miller defeated Mr. Martin, voters were fortunate to have two excellent candidates for mayor. Both offered Lubbock experience and leadership and, based on their answers in our interviews, they're not that far apart on pivotal issues.

As a Councilman, Mr. Martin helped build up Milwaukee Avenue in West Lubbock and open commercial development without a tax increase.

And the Chamber of Commerce gave him its volunteer-of-the-year award in 2000 for his work to help pass a bond to build the county's new jail.

Mr. Martin was banking on voters to choose his 30 years of municipal government experience - as a spokesman, police chief and former Council member - to bring change to the city's government. His message obviously resonated with a majority of the electorate and we wish him well in carrying out his plans to make all of Lubbock a better place to live, work and conduct business.